Method of making head lining listing supports



7 March 26, 1940. L. H. HEUER 2,194,902

METHOD OF MAKING HEAD LINING LISTING SUPPORTS Original Filed NOV. 12, 1938 \FIGJ.

INVENTOR.

LAWRENCE H.HEUER ATTORNEYS Patented Mai-.26, 1940 p l my 2,194,902

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE",

METHOD. OF MAKING HEAD LINING LISTING SUPPORTS Lawrence H. Heller, DetroitgMich.

Uriginal application November 12; 1938, Serial No. 240,198. Divided and this application January 30, 1939, Serial No. 253,657

3 Claims. (01. 29-152) This invention relates generally to the method 1y, of the fiat plies 8 are separated slightlyto of making head lining listing supports for use provide slots l2, while holes l3 areiprovided in in vehicle body constructions and constitutes a the flat plies 6. Thus, when the .support A is division of o my application filed November 12, bent longitudinally as shown'in Figure 2 to con- 5 1938, bearing Serial No. 240,198. form to the cross sectional configuration of a 6 One of the essential objects of the invention vehicle body top,suitable securing elements '(not is to form the supports in such a way from flat shown) may be engaged with the holes #3 to fasstock that they may be bent readily without deten the support in place.

formation to conform to the interior cross sec- In the process of Const uct o e Support A 10 tional configuration of the vehicle body structure is formed by first rolling a sheet of metal into 10} to which they are applied. tubular form corresponding in cross section to Another object is to form the supports so that the intermediate portion 3. Predeterniined they will be lighter in weight and'stifier and lengths of such tubing are then cut-whereupon stronger in construction than supports of the opposite ends of such lengths are flattened" as conventional type. shown. Following this the end portions are I Another object is to employ an improved methpierced to provide the holes 'l3'and are trimmed ed that is economical and that insures uniformity or otherwise finished so as to provide a-srnooth in construction. and neat structure. The lengths so formed are Other objects, advantages and novel details then bent longitudinally to conform to the cross of construction of this invention will be made sectional curvature of the vehicle top so that 120 more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, esthey may be readily secured in p1 c pecially when considered in connection with the In pra tice he in e med ateportion 3 of such accompanying drawing, wherein: support is received within thedownwardly open- Figure l is a perspective View of one of the ing channel of a crossbar or bow (not shown) of supports embodying my invention before it is the top of the vehicle body, while the end por- 25 bent to conform to the cross sectional configurations 1 and 2 of the support extend downwardly tion of a vehicle body top; beyond the ends of said crossbar and are fastened Figure 2 is an elevation of the support after it to the vehicle body at opposite sides thereof. has been bent to conform to the cross sectional Preferably fabric sleeveslnot shown) are slipped configuration of a vehicle body top; onto the intermediate portion 3 of each support 30 ,Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of before the latter is attached to the vehicle body one end of the support; so that the head lining (not shown) constituting Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but the interior trim of the vehicle body top may be Showing e pp s d t ereo stitched or otherwise secured to the fabric sleeve Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken subon the support. t 35 stantially on the line 55 of Figure 2. What I claim as my invention is:

Referring n t th r wi A is a pport 1. The method of making for avehicle body embodying my invention rolled from a single top a head lining listing support having a tubu ee of metal a haViIlg flattened en s I and lar body portion of substantially T-cross section 40 respectively, and an r e te u u p and attaching portions constituting flattened 40 tion endwise extensions of said body portion, the stem Preferably the base 4 of the intermediate tuf the T being channel-shaped and provided bola! Portion 3 is flat, While the pposite Wall throughout its length at the side edges of the of d tubular Portion is t -S p d an channel with substantially flat laterally projectprovided with laterally p oj Wings 5 and 7, ing flanges, the transverse portion of the T be- 45 respectively, of substantially inverted L-cross ing substantially fiat and spanning the channel section that co nec to' longitudinal edges throughout its length, said transverse portion of the fiat base 4. Thus, the cross section of the bein pressed firmly in surface-to-surfaoe retu u Portion 3 as illustrated in Fig 5 p lation against the lateral flanges aforesaid so VideS the maximum Strength both Vertically and that the transverse portion cooperates with the 50 horizontally thereof. side edges of the channel to form a circ-umferen- ,The flattened end portions I and 2 are fl re tially closed tube and cooperates with the flanges slightly as s wn a d av w flat p s 8 and to rovide laminated webs at opposite sides of 9, respectively. In this connection it will be noted the tube, including the steps of first rolling a that the margi portions Ill and II, PectivB- sheet of metal to form the channel-shaped stem 55' and lateral flanges and the transverse portion spanning said channel-shaped stem and to cause the transverse portion to be positioned in surfacetosurface relation against the lateral flanges to form the circumferentially closed tube and laminated webs aforesaid, then cutting the structure so formed into predetermined lengths, then flattening the channel-shaped portion between and substantially into alignment with the lateral flanges at opposite ends of each length and to cause sections of the transverse portion at opposite ends of each length to be spread laterally apart, then piercing the flattened portions just mentioned between the laterally spaced sections of the transverse portion to provide holes for securing elements, and finally bending longitudinally without distortion each length toa predetermined curvature to conform to the cross sectional curvature of a vehicle body top.

2. The method of making for a vehicle body top a head lining listing support having a tubular body portion of substantially T-cross section and attaching portions constituting flattened endwise extensions of said body portion, the stem of the T being channel-shaped and provided throughout its length at the side edges of the channel with substantially flat laterally projecting flanges, the transverse portion of the T being substantially flat and spanning the channel throughout its length, said transverse portion being pressed firmly in surface-to-surface relation against the lateral flanges aforesaid so that the transverse portion cooperates with the side edges of the channel to form a circumferentially closed tube and cooperates with the flanges to provide laminated webs at opposite sides of the tube, including the steps of first rolling a length of sheet metal to form the channel-shaped stem and lateral flanges and the transverse portion spanning said channel-shaped stem and to cause the transverse portion to be positioned in surface-to-surface relation against the lateral flanges to form the circumferentially closed tube and laminated webs aforesaid, then flattening the channel-shaped portion between and substantially into alignment with the lateral flanges at opposite ends of the body and to cause sections of the transverse portion at opposite ends of the body to be spread laterally apart, then piercing the flattened portions just mentioned between the laterally spaced sections of the transverse portion to provide holes for securing elements, and finally bending longitudinally without distortion the tubular body portion to a predetermined curvature to conform to the cross sectional curvature of a vehicle body top.

3. The method of making for a vehicle body top a head lining listing support having a tubular body portion of substantially T-cross section and attaching portions constituting flattened endwise extensions of said body portion, the stem of the T being channel-shaped and provided throughout its length at the side edges of the channel with substantially flat laterally projecting flanges, the transverse portion of the T being substantially flat and spanning the channel throughout its length, said transverse portion being pressed firmly in surface-to-surface relation against the lateral flanges aforesaid so that the transverse portion cooperates with the side edges of the channel to form a circumferentially closed tube and cooperates with the flanges to provide laminated webs at opposite sides of the tube, including the steps of first rolling a length of sheet metal to form the channel-shaped stem and lateral flanges and the transverse portion spanning said channel-shaped stem and to cause the transverse portion to be positioned in surface-to-surface relation against the lateral flanges to form the circumferentially closed tube and laminated webs aforesaid, then flattening the channel-shaped portion between and substantially into alignment with the lateral flanges at opposite ends of the body and to cause sec-- tions of the transverse portion at opposite ends of the body to be spread laterally apart, then piercing the flattened portions just mentioned between the laterally spaced sections of the transverse portion to provide holes for securing elements, and finally trimming the body and attaching portions to provide a smooth and neat structure.

, LAWRENCE H. HEJUER. 

